Cleaner for engine cooling systems



Sept. 1, 1953 F. HOKE 2,650,602

CLEANER FOR ENGINE COOLING SYSTEMS Filed Sept, 21, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 1, 1953 F. H OKE CLEANER FOR ENGINE COOLING SYSTEMS I Filed Sept. 21. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORQ fTPfi/YK boKE,

Sept. 1, 1953 F. HOKE 2,

CLEANER FOR ENGINE COOLING SYSTEMS Filed Sept. 21, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. an //0KE,

If 701917 E 75.

Patented Sept. 1, 1953 Frank Hoke, Indianapolis, 1nd,, .asslgnor to Huicomb & Hoke Mfg. (30., 1110., Indianapolis, Ind.,

a corporation of Indiana Application September 21, 1848, Serial No. 50,272

3 Claims. (Cl. 134-112,)

This invention relates to app ratus adapted for use in flushing and cleaning the cooling systems of internal combustion engines. and particularly automobile engines, with a cleansing and scaleremov-ihg solution. It is known. that as a Watercooled internal combustion engine is used, dep sits .of scale consisting principally of calcium carbonate, rust, and sludge are gradually .built up within the radiator and the water-jacket of the engine. Such deposits may eventually result in serious interference both with circulation of the coolant and with the transmission or heat to or from the coolant. It has heretofore been proposed to clean the radiator of an internal combustion engine cooling system by disconnecting it from the water jacket of the engine and circulating through it a solution capable of dissolving accumulated scale. Apparatus employed in such an operation necessarily embodies a pump or other source of pressure for supplying the power necessary to circulate the solution; and in some instances, the cleaning apparatus has been provided with a heating means for maintaining the circu lating medium at an elevated temperature to increas its .efiectiveness. The necessity for a pump or its equivalent and the desirability of the heating means renders prior cooling-system cleaning apparatus of which I am aware relatively cumbersome, complicated, and expensive.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus which can be employed to clean the entire cooling system of an internal combustion engine without the aid of any exterior source of power or heat. A further object of the invention is to provide a cooling-system cleaning apparatus which can he simply and economically manufactured and which can he inexpensively operated. Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means for connecting the cleaning apparatus into the engine cooling system to be cleaned.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a tank supported in an elevated position on a wheeled truck. Delivery and return hoses are provided for connecting the tank into the engine-cooling system to be cleaned, and the tank is additionally provided with a supply hose for fresh water and a discharge or drain hose through which the cleaning solution may be removed. The return hose, through which cooling solution is returned to the radiator of the engine cooling system, is desirably connected to such radiator through a fittin-g having at its top an air-vent opening connected through a vent hose with the aforesaid tank at a. point above the liquid level therein and higher than the top of the radiator. The vent hose has an eifective length less than the lengths of the return and delivery hoses, and the wheeled support for the tank is provided with a brake. whereby the tank and its support may be disposed in a position such that the vent hose is taut and straight and the brake then set to maintain the vent hose in such condition. The device is connected into the cooling system of the engine in such a way that liquid from the engine is delivered to the tank through the delivery hose, circulated through the tank in contact with suitable chemicals which dissolve to form the cleaning solution, and returned to the top of the radiator for recirculation through the engine-cooling system, the liquid lacing forced over the described path by the ordinary coolant- .circulating pump of the engine, which is maintained in operation during the cleaning process. Desirably, the tank is provided with a. thermometer for indicating the temperature of the circulating liquid; and in addition, the tank may also he provided with an alarm adapted to be actuated when the circulating liquid reaches a predetermined maximum temperature.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention: Fig. 1 is a perspective view (illustrating the apparatus in association with the engine of an automobile; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the aforesaid tank .on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. .3 is a section on the line .3--.3 of Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and Sare respectively, a longitudinal section and a transverse section of the tank-supporting truck; Fig. .6 is a side elevation, in partial section, illustrating a fitting employed at the top of the radiator; Fig. 7 a fragmental rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. .6, with portions of the device broken away and appearing in crosssection; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the outlet fitting shown in Fig. 6.; Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. .6; 'Fig. 10 is an axial section through a fitting employed to interconnect the delivery hose with the water jacket of the engine; Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating a. conventional automobile engine and the associated cooling-system elements; Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. '7 illustrating a modified form of construction ,for the fitting employed at the top of the radiator; and Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the fitting shown in Fig. 12.

As indicated in Fig. 11, the common form of present day automobile embodies an engine 15 having a water jacket which is provided .at its top with an outlet nipple 11. Associated with the engine is a radiator 13 which communicates with the engine water-jacket through a .hose I! connected at its rear end to the outlet nipple I1 and at its front end to an inlet nipple 20 at the top of the radiator. The bottom of the radiator is connected through a hose 2] with the inlet of a pump 22 which discharges into the engine water-jacket.

The apparatus which I employ in flushing and cleaning the cooling system of an engine, particularly an automobile engine, comprises a wheeled truck which supports a tank 26 in an elevated position. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be obvious that the tank 26 is divided into front and rear compartments 21 and 28 by a vertical partition 29 provided with openings 30, located both above and below the normal liquid level in the tank, which afiord communication between the two compartments 21 and 28. Desirably, the openings 30 are provided with louvers 3| which extend downwardly and inwardly of the front compartment 21.

The rear compartment 28 of the tank 26 is provided at its bottom with a supply nipple connected to a water-supply hose 35. Entrance of water into the compartment 28 from the supply hose is controlled by a float valve 36 which operates to open and admit water to the tank whenever the liquid level in the compartment 28 drops below a predetermined elevation. In its rear wall, the compartment 28 is provided with an outlet nipple 31 connected to a return hose 38 (Fi l).

Extending across the compartment 28 and bent to discharge downwardly into the compartment 21 is an inlet pipe 40 which projects rearwardly through the rear wall of the compartment 28 for connection to a delivery hose 4|. Desirably, the pipe 48 discharges into the compartment 21 through a frusto-conical splash guard 42. In its bottom wall, the compartment 21 is provided with a fitting 43 which, interiorly of the tank, has an upwardly opening recess adapted to receive removably an overflow pipe 44. Exteriorly of the tank, the fitting 43 is connected to an outlet valve 45 which is in turn connected to a drain hose 46.

For the purpose of connecting the return hose 38 to the top of the radiator I8 I may employ a fitting of the type illustrated in Figs. 6, '1, and 8. Such fitting comprises a generally L-shaped body to the lower end of which a plate 5| is secured as by means of screws 52. The plate 5| is provided with a central opening 53 in line with the passage 54 in the body 50; and in the upper face of the plate 5| I provide four lateral grooves 55 arranged at equal angular intervals about the axis of the hole 53. One pair of diametrically opposite grooves 55 receive a pair of inwardly directed U-shaped coupling members gage beneath the flange 51 to accommodate the fitting to radiator necks of varying diameters. If the interrupted flange on a radiator-neck is an inwardly directed flange, the outwardlydirected U-shaped members are employed, such U- shaped members being radially adjustable in the slots which receive them to accommodate the fitting to radiator-necks of different diameters.

Desirably, a gasket 62 is secured to the lower face of the plate 5| to seat against the upper end of the radiator-neck when the fitting 5|] is tightened thereon.

The fitting 58 is provided with a laterally pro- 1 jecting member 63 for reception within the end of the return hose 38. Desirably, a second nipple 64 is also provided on the fitting 5|], such nipple communicating with the passage 54 and being received within a vent hose 65. The opposite end of the vent hose 65 is connected with a nipple 66 mounted in the rear wall of the rear compartment 28 of the tank 26. As the purpose of the nipple 64 and vent hose 65 is to prevent the trapping of air or other gaseous substance within the cooling system, the nipple 64 is located at the top of the fitting 58, and the nipple 66 on the tank 26 is disposed at an elevation well above the top of the radiator of any automobile with which the apparatus is to be used.

I contemplate that my apparatus will be connected into the cooling system of an internal combustion engine by removing the hose |9 from its normal connection with the nipple 28 and connecting it to the delivery hose 4| as shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose, I may employ the fitting '10 illustrated in Fig. 10. Such fitting comprises a body 1| having portions of progressively decreasing diameter each adapted to be received within a hose IQ of any of the diameters commonly used in automobiles. The opposite end of the fitting 10 is formed as a nipple 12 adapted for reception within the delivery hose 4|.

To close the nipple 20 and prevent the escape of liquid therefrom after the hose H) has been removed from it, I may employ the closure illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9. Such closure comprises a cup-like body 15 the bottom of which is faced interiorly with some compressible material 56 adapted to cooperate with an interrupted U-shaped members 60 which extend through the t opening 53 for cooperation with an interrupted, inwardly directed flange on the filler-neck of a radiator.

In ordinary use, the filler-neck of an automobile radiator is closed with a radiator cap held in place by cooperation between ears on the cap and an interrupted flange on the neck of the radiator, the cap being applied by passing the ears thereon through the notches which interrupt the flange on the radiator neck and by then rotating the cap to tighten it in place. Radiator necks are of various diameters and may have the interrupted cap-retaining flange extending either inwardly or outwardly. Where the flange 6 and '1, the inwardly directed U-shaped members 56 are employed, being radially adjusted in the slots 55 to such a position that they will en- 16, such as soft rubber or its equivalent. The inner diameter of the body 15 is made large enough to receive the inlet nipple 20 of any automobile in common use, and the side wall of the body is provided with a screw-threaded opening for the reception of a clamp screw 11. Mounted on the inner end of the clamp screw 11 is a shoe 18 having diverging sides adapted to engage a radiator nipple 2|] at angularly spaced points.

In using the apparatus described, the radiator hose I9 is removed from its connection with the nipple 20 and is secured to the fitting 18 in the manner indicated in Fig. 10. The closure 15 is placed over the radiator nipple 20, forced thereagainst so that the gasket 16 will seal the open end of such nipple, and the screw 11 is tightened to clamp the nipple between the shoe 18 and the closure-body 15. The radiator cap normally in a plug 80 is inserted in the radiator-overflow tube 8|, and the fitting 5|lis applied in place of the cap. With the apparatus so arranged, and with the engine l6 operating, the coolant pump of the I engine will force water through the water jacket, extends outwardly, as indicated at 51 in Figs.

will not he pnevented :by any body .of liquid trapped in such vent hose. th nipple B8 .on the tank 25 is located at an elevation such that the hose 65 will err-tend upwardly toward the tank 2.6. To prevent such hose from sagging, it is made effectively shorter than each of the hoses 38 and M and the truck E is provided with a brake by means or which the hose 55 may be maintained taut and straight.

One appropriate form of brake mechanism is :11- lustr-ated in Figs. :4 and As there indicated, the truck .25 has a rigid frame 583 supporting a pair of coaxial rear wheels 34 and a front caster 35 including a single front wheel 86. The caster i3 5 is provided with .an upwardly extending bracket at to which there is pivotally secured a handle or tongue t3 that can be employed in moving the truck from place to place. Extending transversely of the frame .83 above the wheels .84 is a brake member 9d the .end portions of which are adapted to be lowered into contact with the wheels 84 and prevent their rotation. A brakeop erating member 91 loosely pivoted to the frame 8 3 extends rearwardly below th brake member 90 and outwardly through an ear .92 rigid with the frame. A bolt .93 extending through the brake member 9!) and the brake-operating member 9| interconnects them so that when the outer .end of the operating member 9.! is depressed the ends of the brake member 9.0 will be forced downwardly into contact with the wheels 84. The ear 92 is provided with an opening 94 through which the operating member '94 proiects, such opening having a horizontal extent greater than the width of the member 91 to permit a limited horizontal swinging or" such member. The upper side of the opening 3.4! is stepped, having upperpand lower portions which limit upward movement of the free end of the operating member .9 I. The .lower portion of the upper side of the opening .94 is disposed at such an elevation that when the opcra n member is in contact with it, th ends of the :lorakc member fillwillenga e the wheels 84. A spring .95 biases the operating member 9| for movement toward the lower portion of the upper side of the opening 54, whileone or more springs as bias the brake member 90 upwardly or away from the wheels '84.

When the return hose 38 and delivery hose 4| are connected into the cooling system of the automobile ,engine It in the manner above described, the truck 25 is rnoved away from the automobile until the vent hose 6-5 is taut, and the brake member 91] is brought into engagement with the wheels 84 by depressing the free end of the operating member 84 and swinging it beneath the lower portion of the upper side of the opening 94,1n which position the operating member will be releasably retained by the spring 95. With the brake 90 set, the hose .65 will .be maintained taut and straight, so that air or vapor can escape from the cooling system through it into the upper portion of the tank-compartment 2:8. The hoses 38 and 41. and especially the hose :38, should not be long enough to sag unduly when the hose 65 taut.

The supply hose is connected to a suitable liquid in the tank 2-6.

source of water under pressure, and water is ad'- mitted into the tank 2.6 under the control of the float valve 36.. 1f the cooling system of n18.81111.09- mohile was drained before the cleaning operation was begun, water entering the tank :28 throu h the supply hose 25 will run by gravity through the return hose :38 to ,fill the engme-cooling system. When the engineecooling system has been filled and the water level in the tank .28 has raised sufficiently, the float valve 36 will close to prevent the admission :of further water. The automobile engine is started and chemicals used to aid in the cleaning of the cooling system are deposited in the front compartment 2?! of the tank 25. As the engine the coolant pump 22 circulates water through the engine water-jacket. and the hoses l9 and M into the float compartment 21 of the tank. Coming into contact with the chemicals in that compartment, the water dissolves them and passes through the lower opening or openings '31) into the rear compartment 28, from which it flows by gravity to the upper end of the radiator 18 to pass downwardly therethrough to the coolant pump. The venting of the upper portion of the radiator through the hose 65 prevents the pump 22 from applying suction to Any scale and solid particles discharged into the front tank-compartment: .2? settle to the bottom thereof and are trapped, as the lowermost of the openings 30 is above the tank-bottom. In the same way, any solid chemicals deposited in the front compartment will be retained therein, but will be dissolved by the circulating water.

A thermometer 100, secured to a wall of the tank 26 and responsive to the temperature of water therein maybe employed to apprise the operator of such temperature. In addition, the device maybe provided with an audible alarm NI, actuatable under the control .of a temperatureresponsive element I02 mounted below the normal liquid level in the tank 26.

If the tank 26 is provided with a cover I03, such cover is desirably cut away over the tank compartment .21 to permit. the operator to observe .the character .of the liquid discharged from the inlet pple MI and, if desired, to take samples of such liquid for testing. The cover 103 need not fit tightly over andseal the rear compartment 238., and preferably does not do so. Any air which is vented from the engine cooling system and which enters the rear compartment 28 through the fitting 65 can escape past the loosely fitting cover M3, or, if necessary, through the upper opening 30 into the uncovered front compartment 2:1.

Operation of the engine is continued until it has been determined that the cooling system has been adequately cleaned. When this occurs, the drain valve 45 is opened permitting liquid in the tank 21 to escape through the drain hose 46. The supply hose 3.5, however, remains connected to the fresh water supply; and in consequence, the float valve 35 operates to replacewith fresh water the solution escaping through the drain hose. During this phase of the operation, the removable overflow pipe 44 is in position. The upper end of such overflow pipe is below the normal liquid level maintained by the float valve 36, thus permitting the solution to escape while insuring that all water will not be pumped from the engine cooling system should the supply of fresh Water through the supply hose fail. Continued operation of the engine under these conditions results in a gradual replacement of the cleaning has progressed to the desired extent, the automobile engine is stopped, the plug 80 and the fittings 50 and I are removed from the radiator, and the hose I9 is reconnected to the radiatorinlet nipple as shown in Fig. 11. The supply of fresh water to the hose is shut off, and the overflow pipe 44 is removed to permit all liquid remaining in the tank 26 to escape through the drain hose 46.

T In Figs. 12 and 13 I have illustrated a modification of the fitting shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. Themodified fitting embodies a fitting-body 50' generally similar to the fitting-body 50 except for the means employed to secure the fitting to a radiator neck 58 in which the interrupted flange .51 is located exteriorly. The fitting body has at its. bottom a flange I04 which provides a :mounting for two members I05 disposed vertically and located diametrically opposite each other.

The members I05 are screw-threaded at their upper ends for the reception of nuts I06 and at their lower ends with retaining fingers I01 which can be brought into engagement with the lower edge of the flange 51 on the radiator-neck 58. When the fingers I01 are disposed in the dottedline position shown in Fig. 13, the fitting can be seated on the radiator neck, and by then rotating the members I05 to or toward the full-line positions indicated the fingers are brought into engagement with the lower edges of the interrupted .flange 51. Tightening of the nuts I06 will then seat the fitting tightly on the neck 58. This arrangement not only permits the fitting 50' to be applied to radiator necks of varying diameter,

but also makes it unnecessary to rotate the fitting as a whole in applying it to a radiator-neck.

The principal constituent of the scale formed within an internal combustion engine cooling system is ordinarily relatively soluble in acid solutions, such as, for example, solutions of oxalic acid. However, the deposits usually embody a certain amount of oil or of an oil residue which interferes with the free attack of the acid solution on the scale. Ordinary soaps, being alkaline in character, cannot satisfactorily be used in conjunction with acid solutions, as they would neutralize the acidity necessary to dissolving of the scale. For that reason, the ordinary solution employed in flushing engine cooling systems embodies an acid and a neutral detergent, the latter serving to remove the oily substance and prevent it from interfering with the attack of the acid solution on the scale. All the neutral detergents of which I am aware, when used in a solution for cleaning engine cooling systems, result in the formation of relatively large quantities of foam. In the system described, such foam is delivered to the tank 26 in which the foam has an opportunity to break down, the entrapped gases escaping to the open air. As the foam is not dense enough to support, the float associated with the valve 36, such valve operates to insure the existence within the compartment 28 of a substantial quantity of water free from entrapped gases, with the result that the liquid returned to the engine cooling system through the hose 28 is substantially foam-free. This is a desirable attribute of the apparatus, because the foam is relatively ineffective as a medium for transferring heat, and overheating of the engine might result if provision were not made for maintaining within its cooling system an adequate supply of foam-free liquid.

1 My apparatus needs neither a pump for circulating the cleaning solution nor means for heating some cleaning solution; for circulation is maintained through the cooling system and the tank 26 by the ordinary coolant-circulating pump 22 of the automobile engine, and the heat generated within the cylinders of the engine as it runs heats the cleaning solution to increase its effectiveness in removing the scale.

Further, by observing the rate at which the cleaning solution is being discharged into the tank-compartment 22, it is possible to ascertain whether or not the pump 22 is operating to maintain coolant circulation at a satisfactory rate.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for cleaning the COOIiIlg system of a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine having an associated radiator and pump for circulating liquid through the radiator and enginejacket, a wheeled truck, an elevated tank on said truck having an inlet and an outlet, a flexible delivery hose for connecting said inlet to the outlet of the engine-jacket, a flexible return hose for connecting the tank-outlet with the inlet of the radiator, a vent hose for connection to the top of the radiator and communicating with said tank, said vent hose being eifectively shorter than the other hoses whereby said truck and tank can be moved away from the radiator to tighten the vent hose, and brake means on said truck for holding it in a position in which the vent hose is taut.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the addition of a fitting adapted for application to the top of the radiator in communication therewith, said delivery and vent hoses being connected to said fitting.

3. In a device for cleaning the cooling system of a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine having an associated radiator and pump for circulating liquid through the radiator and enginejacket, a tank disposed at an elevation greater than that of said radiator, said tank having an inlet and an outlet, hoses adapted to connect said inlet and outlet respectively with the outlet of the engine-jacket and with the radiator whereby liquid may be forced by said pump through the engine-jacket and into the elevated tank and returned from the latter to the radiator under the influence of gravity, a supply conduit for conveying liquid from a source to said tank, means responsive to the level of liquid in the tank for controlling the admission of liquid thereto from said supply conduit, said tank being provided with a drain opening at its bottom, and a drain pipe removably positioned in said drain opening and extending upwardly therefrom to a point below the liquid-level maintained in said tank.

FRANK HOKE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,369,882 Brown Mar. 1, 1921 1,701,824 Robinson Feb. 12, 1929 1,715,492 Bassion June 4, 1929 1,780,452 Walker Nov. 4, 1930 1,783,478 Moore Dec. 2, 1930 1,887,985 Auker et a1 Nov. 15, 1932 1,936,315 Tillman Nov. 21, 1933 2,018,403 Hussar Oct. 22, 1935 2,024,952 Snyder et a1 Dec. 17, 1935 2,221,803 Krobusek Nov. 19, 1940 2,222,516 Powell et a1. Nov. 19, 1940 2,410,162 Horan Oct. 29, 1946 2,458,333 Brady Jan. 4, 1949 

